Dragon’s Spirit

Ch 5

Love is Blind

Disclaimer: I don’t own it so don’t sue me.

It had been two months since Tsuruko arrived at Hinata Sou. Two months of searching for Keitaro. Two months of disappointment. After the end of each search Tsuruko had returned to Hinata Sou hoping for news of Keitaro and only found Haruka sadly shaking her head.

This morning Tsuruko had woken up later than she usually did, but when she appeared at the table for breakfast no one commented on this fact. After the meal she quietly moved up the steps and emerged on the roof. The mist still clung to the small city despite the suns rays. Tsuruko moved to her spot on the roof where she could look down on the city. Here she felt safe for some reason. She didn’t know how long she sat there but it was long enough that when a hand touched her shoulder she jumped slightly.

Turning quickly she saw Haruka standing their with a concerned look on her face. “Sorry.”

Tsuruko shook her head and turned back to the scene below her. “I miss him so much. I have only known him for a few days but I feel so complete with him around. Is it wrong for me to fall in love so quickly?”

Haruka was at a loss for words She knew Keitaro had horrible luck with woman. Squeezing the samurai’s shoulder Haruka turned back to head inside when she heard Tsuruko speak softly. “Keitaro please come back to me. Please.”

Motoko was walking down the hall towards her room when she ran into Haruka. Haruka looked down at the young samurai. “You know Motoko that Keitaro is coming home someday.”

Motoko just glared at her. “Like I care that spineless pervert managed to scam my sister into worrying about him to the point she is lacking in her training.”

Haruka shook her head. “I am sure Keitaro will have a few words to share with you on that. Just don’t get any ideas of attacking him because he may just have a surprise for you.”

Motoko nodded and brushed past Haruka. Haruka stared after the girl. I hope you can reach her Keitaro if you can’t then she will fall and fall hard.

As Hinata Sou went about it’s days Tsuruko found herself once more wondering why she was so attracted to this young man.

As usual she liked to sit on the roof and look out over the region while she let her mind wander. Her mind brought up the memory of the bath scene right before he had left her. She still felt her heart race increase as her body molded to his. She finally admitted to herself that she longed for his touch. To feel the love he was offering her. Again like all the times before she felt the tears roll down her cheeks as she remembered the pained expression on his face when he left her.

Tsuruko came to her senses and saw that the sun had set and she made her way down to her room hoping to find sleep and peace. But that was not to be as once again she found herself longing to be held in his arms once again. She felt her heart cringe as she once again felt tears gathering. She tries to hold back the sobs but it is no use. Her mind recalls the look Keitaro gave her before he disappeared into the shadows. Sleep does not come easily that night.

Haruka walks slowly through the Hinata Sou as she hears the kitchen she opens the door marked maintenance and walks down the stairs. Once in the underground cellar she looks back up the steps briefly to make sure she isn’t followed. Reassured she moves next to the stonewall furthest from the stairs and places her hand on the cool stone. Her dragon materializes next to her and places its massive claw over hers. The wall begins to glow a soft blue color before sliding open to reveal another passage leading into darkness.

Tsuruko woke to find that once again she had managed to wrap herself up in the futon covers so that she had to spend a moment or two untangling herself from it. Once she was free she grabbed her extra cloths and bathing products and made her way to the hot spring. Stepping out in her towel she finds that she is the last one to enter.

After scrubbing clean she joined the other girls in the hot water. She felt her muscles begin to relax. That was when she felt it. Sitting upright she saw a blur of motion coming from her right turning she saw Haruka bolt from through the side door and race towards them. She ran up to the springs and turned her back to them just as a roar ripped through the air. Tsuruko felt a shiver of fear run up her back as she saw the red dragon tear through the clouds towards them.

The dragon opened its mouth and let loose with a massive fireball. Before veering off in anther direction. The molten ball of fire sped towards them Haruka stepped forwards and spread her arms wide as he dragon appeared behind her mimicking the motion with its front legs and wings. Just as the fireball reached them it seemed to strike something midair. Grimacing Haruka feel to one knee as the fireball erupted spreading across the protective field that she had put up. Tsuruko could see the white aura radiating off of her as she struggled to maintain the shield.

As the fireball dissipated Haruka let her arms drop as she struggled back to her feet. Glancing about she motioned for Tsuruko to come towards her. Slowly she made her way to the guardian. “Tsuruko if he comes around again and releases another attack like that I don’ think I will be able to hold it for long. If he does I want you to grab the girls and run to the maintenance stairwell that is in the kitchen it will protect you and them from his attack. Understand?”

Tsuruko nodded and made her way to the girls to tell them what needed to be done. As she began to speak another roar erupted from the forest behind them Haruka turned and the girls screamed as the red dragon erupted from the woods running at full speed towards them.

The dragon never made it. In one fluid motion Haruka jumped the hot spring and raised her arms once more creating the shield and taking the full force of the impact as the dragon slammed into the shield forcing Haruka back several feet. The red dragon pulled back and sat on its haunches before unleashing a torrent of flame onto the shield. Haruka turned to the girls in the spring.

“RUN!”

Haruka fell to her knees as the shield began to crack. The white dragon roared as the shield collapsed and a wall of flame engulfed the guardian. Tsuruko couldn’t stand it pulling her blade from out of nowhere she launched a ki attack at the dragon.

“Evil Banishing Strike!” As her attack ripped across the field she screamed as something erupted from the hot spring behind her.

A massive stream of black fire erupted from behind her. The ki attack struck the dragon hard enough that it had to spread its wings to compensate allowing for the fire blast to strike its body with out a means to defend itself. The red dragon screamed in pain as the black flames engulfed its body. Tsuruko turned to see who had helped them and took a step back. The grayish looking dragon was still partially concealed in the water but it’s upper body was braced by placing it’s front talons on the rocky ground of the onsen. Tsuruko glanced about for the girls. She began to panic when she didn’t see them. She sighed in relief as Shinobu made her way out from between the massive forelegs of the dragon. The other girls also made their way out from under their protector.

The red dragon was still screaming as the black flames continued to crawl over its skin. Finally after a few moments the screams stopped as the fire disappeared. The red moved back several feet as it glared at the half submerged dragon. Glancing about Tsuruko felt uncomfortable with the rest of the girls out here but she didn’t want to send them somewhere they couldn’t be protected.

Before she could react the red dragon unleashed another fireball. Tsuruko screamed and ducked down. Hearing the explosion she glanced over her shoulder and saw a wall of black energy surrounding them. The red dragon took a few more steps back as the wall of energy collapsed.

The shadow dragon rose to its full height and moved out of the hot spring a low rumbling growl could be heard as the shadow dragon stalked towards the red dragon that was frantically trying to get away. Flapping its wings the red began to rise off the ground but as it’s back feet began to leave the ground something happened. Tsuruko could only watch as the massive shadow of the red dragon rose up and wrapped itself around the back feet of the retreating dragon pulling it back to earth. Slowly the dragon was being absorbed into the shadow as the red clawed and flapped its wings trying to pull its self-free. Soon only the head was left above the shadow that had consumed the rest of its body the cry that escaped from its maw was not a roar but a cry of fear and despair.

AS the head disappeared into the blackness the Shadow dragon turned to the girls and rumbled. Tsuruko drew her sword and stepped between the dragon and the girls as she saw the shadow of the dragon begin to move towards them. Tsuruko was looking around frantically trying to spot a way out. The shadow stopped a foot in front of Tsuruko. And as the stunned Samurai watched a figure could be seen rising from inside the shadow. Tsuruko and the other girls were stunned as Haruka stepped from the shadow. Turning she looked over her shoulder at the shadow dragon.

“Thank you Keitaro.”

A/N

Heh sorry for the long delay in updating this fic I have been having a rough time recently I am trying to update all my old fics so I hope this update will satisfy you for the time being. I hope your not to disappointed with this update.